The sub 10K Elise
Discussion
I had my 97 plate S1 with 28K miles up for sale at £11k for 3 weeks with not a single interest. I reduced the price 3 days ago to £9,900 and have now sold it. This car had never seen a track in its life and was in mint condition. Could not understand why there was no interest for so long. Guess £10k must some kind of mental barrier for a lot of people.
It's a buyers market at the moment, and there are a lot of Elises on the market, both S1 and S2. You have to bear in mind that early S1s are 8 or 9 years old, and yet have still retained around 45% of their value from new which is exceptional.
Like any car of that age, get it properly inspected, but I think there are loads of excellent S1s to be had for around the £9.5K mark.
Like any car of that age, get it properly inspected, but I think there are loads of excellent S1s to be had for around the £9.5K mark.
I'd definately agree it's a buyers market at the moment - just look at the number for sale in Pistonheads at any one time.
A couple of months ago I bought my 98 S1 with 32k miles and lots of tasty upgrades (Black Sport 160 wheels, Nitrons, ITG, SS exhaust, cat pipe, braided hoses, quickshift & gearlinkage kit etc) for a shade over £10k. I felt this was a bargain as the upgrades were all things I would have eventually carried out and must have cost the original owner well over £2500.
I managed to haggle it down from £11k over a couple of weeks just by playing it cool, which proves the previous owner can't have been overwhelmed with buyers.
The car is in exceptionally good condition with only some wear to the drivers sill pad and a nose respray as evidence of the mileage.
The previous owner claims that it hasn't been on track, although I have plans to correct this!
Just be patient - there are some cracking S1's up for grabs.
This is my 3rd Elise having owned an S1 and TT190 S2 from new, and I have to say I think I am enjoying this latest yellow peril the most. The fact it only cost £10k for a fantastic car just adds to the enjoyment.
A couple of months ago I bought my 98 S1 with 32k miles and lots of tasty upgrades (Black Sport 160 wheels, Nitrons, ITG, SS exhaust, cat pipe, braided hoses, quickshift & gearlinkage kit etc) for a shade over £10k. I felt this was a bargain as the upgrades were all things I would have eventually carried out and must have cost the original owner well over £2500.
I managed to haggle it down from £11k over a couple of weeks just by playing it cool, which proves the previous owner can't have been overwhelmed with buyers.
The car is in exceptionally good condition with only some wear to the drivers sill pad and a nose respray as evidence of the mileage.
The previous owner claims that it hasn't been on track, although I have plans to correct this!
Just be patient - there are some cracking S1's up for grabs.
This is my 3rd Elise having owned an S1 and TT190 S2 from new, and I have to say I think I am enjoying this latest yellow peril the most. The fact it only cost £10k for a fantastic car just adds to the enjoyment.
Gents,
I really don't see the problem with an Elise if its been used on track and looked after properly.
Mine only gets used on the road to get it to and from the track. Its on track twice a month and is at my local specialist after each trackday. It gets an oil change every 1000 miles with Mobil1 and I never rev it above 6.5k. If there is a sniff of something becoming worn then it gets replaced with an upgraded part. On top of that the car is improved as money allows (suspension, seat, bushes, toe-links etc).
The only issue I would be concerned about when buying a track used car would be the health of the engine and box. They are currently perfect in mine. Even if this was not the case you could pick up a used engine from a right off and end up with a car that was far far better sorted that any garage 'queen'.
Just my view anyway - don't snub a car just because it gets used on track - you could be missing out on a real bargain!
Cheers,
Rob
I really don't see the problem with an Elise if its been used on track and looked after properly.
Mine only gets used on the road to get it to and from the track. Its on track twice a month and is at my local specialist after each trackday. It gets an oil change every 1000 miles with Mobil1 and I never rev it above 6.5k. If there is a sniff of something becoming worn then it gets replaced with an upgraded part. On top of that the car is improved as money allows (suspension, seat, bushes, toe-links etc).
The only issue I would be concerned about when buying a track used car would be the health of the engine and box. They are currently perfect in mine. Even if this was not the case you could pick up a used engine from a right off and end up with a car that was far far better sorted that any garage 'queen'.
Just my view anyway - don't snub a car just because it gets used on track - you could be missing out on a real bargain!
Cheers,
Rob
I think so long as it all checks out some people are in for some bargain motoring over the coming years.
I paid £13.5k for a 2000 W-plate Sport 160S, 24k on the clock, full history, and bar a couple of scratches it's in absolutely mint condition. It goes like stink and is just fantastic.
£13.5k for a car which pushes out nearly 220 brake-per-ton and cost over £30k new less than 5 years ago
I paid £13.5k for a 2000 W-plate Sport 160S, 24k on the clock, full history, and bar a couple of scratches it's in absolutely mint condition. It goes like stink and is just fantastic.
£13.5k for a car which pushes out nearly 220 brake-per-ton and cost over £30k new less than 5 years ago
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